The Dalles shows its Pride today, June 26

Kienan Christenson and Travis Bragg from Hood River with their dogs Lola and Molly at Lewis & Clark Festival Park in The Dalles, Oregon. The pair, an attorney and graphic artist recently moved to the area from Vermont. They said they were glad to be in the gorge and to attend the Columbia Gorge Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26.

By Tom Peterson with additions by Cole Goodwin

A strong turnout and a peaceful parade marked Pride events this morning, June 26, in The Dalles.

Rainbow flags, signs and costumes were all part of the upbeat event that sent a firm message of both acceptance and support.

Hundreds came to participate in or watch the Columbia Gorge Pride Parade that started at 10 a.m. near RIVERTAP, 703 E. 2nd St., which also held a full day of festivities on Saturday, including an auction to support Columbia Gorge Pride Alliance.  

The parade moved west along East 2nd Street and ended at Lewis & Clark Festival Park shortly thereafter, with events running through 4 p.m.

The Pride Celebration, which was in its second year, was attended by folx from around the Gorge who were steadfast in their commitment to show support and join in the fun.

“I wanted to support it, especially being transgender,” said Drew, 50, of The Dalles. “I am a conservative Christian. It’s a tough spot. I am surprised by the lack of protest. I went to RIVERTAP last night, and it was very well accepted. It was just a fun time and nobody was racing by or heckling.”

Ryan, Amber, Doe, Rory and Tylor catch a little shade at Lewis & Clark Festival Park on Sunday, June 26th at the conclusion of the Columbia Gorge Pride Parade. The group said they were impressed with the turnout and the strides that are being made in acceptance of LGBTQ+ folx.

A group of friends, some 2015 graduates from The Dalles High School, rested nearby in the shade of a tree. 

The turnout was amazing, they agreed. 

“I could not imagine this happening in such a short time,” said Rory.

Taylor wondered if it was not, in part, due to some of the assemblies they had their freshman year, where students were asked to recognize the differences in each other and understand when they were crossing the line from tolerance to discrimination or harassment.

A sign of acceptance came at The Dalles High School when the traditional Homecoming Queen and King became Queen and Queen in 2016. 

The group of friends also said press coverage of Pride Events and history was also helpful in driving participation and a strong coalition of support.

The fight to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ is far from over.

Today’s events came after the recent Supreme Court Decision on Roe V. Wade, which sent the question of the legality of abortion back to the states. The decision also hinted at the future ability to erode hard-fought laws protecting gay rights. 

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas called on the Supreme Court to use their decision as a precedent for overturning precedents set on contraceptive access and LGBTQ rights in the future. Meaning today’s Roe v. Wade decision could also pave the way for overturning LGBTQ+ people’s right to marry. 

“In future cases, we should reconsider all of this court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,” wrote Thomas in his opinion on Friday’s ruling. Obergefell is a landmark civil rights case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

Ted and Rymmel Lovell

At the parade, Ted and Rymmel Lovell, said the United Congregational Church in The Dalles pushed back their church service to 11 a.m. so that members of the parish could attend the community event. “We’re an open and affirming congregation,” Rymmel said. “Love God, love People.”

Celia Acosta and Eva Jones

Nearby, 20-year-old friends Celia Acosta and Eva Jones from Hood River said it was important to show up at community events and show support, “especially with all things going on,” she said in reference to the Supreme Court decision. “We have to be a huge support for each other in coming years. We will need to lean on each other.”